NXP Semiconductors PCA9955BTW-ARD

Overview

PCA9955BTW-ARD from NXP Semiconductors is an Arduino-compatible daughterboard evaluation platform for the PCA9955B 16-channel Fm+ I²C-bus constant-current LED driver, supporting 57 mA per channel at up to 20 V, with configurable I²C target address (default BCh), onboard RGB and white LEDs, and chainable expansion connectors.

For engineers reviewing the PCA9955BTW-ARD datasheet, PCA9955BTW-ARD pinout, PCA9955BTW-ARD application, or PCA9955BTW-ARD equivalent, this page delivers verified hardware interface details, supported host EVKs (i.MX RT1050, LPCXpresso55S69, i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4), power configuration options, jumper-controlled current limits (20/50 mA), and GUI-based Windows 10 control - all specific to the assembled and tested evaluation board.

Technical Context

The PCA9955BTW-ARD implements a bidirectional Fm+ I²C-bus (1 MHz) interface via Arduino pins A4/SDA and A5/SCL, with three additional control lines (OE, RESET, MUX/REXT) routed through J36 digital headers and expansion connectors J45/J89. It hosts the PCA9955B DUT (U2) in TSSOP28 package and supports address selection across 27 of 125 possible I²C addresses using jumpers J86–J88.

Power is supplied either from the host EVK's Arduino port (5 V) or externally via J85, with on-board LDO (U5) generating 3.3 V. The board enables LED output testing via 10 onboard LEDs (3×RGB + 7×white), jumper-isolatable outputs, external LED connectors (J21/J23/J25/J26), and short-test jumpers (e.g., J49, J57–J58).

Key Specifications

Availability

PCA9955BTW-ARD is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for LED driver validation, embedded lighting prototyping, and I²C peripheral integration requiring stable component supply, rapid GUI-based evaluation, and multi-EVK interoperability.

Supply support for PCA9955BTW-ARD includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

NXP Semiconductors is a global semiconductor company specializing in secure connectivity solutions for automotive, industrial, and IoT applications, with leadership in ARM-based microcontrollers, analog interfaces, and power management ICs.

The PCA9955BTW-ARD belongs to NXP's Arduino-compatible evaluation board family, designed specifically to accelerate development and validation of the PCA9955B LED driver IC in real-world embedded systems using standard Arduino physical and electrical interfaces.

FAQ

What is the primary function of the PCA9955BTW-ARD evaluation board?

The PCA9955BTW-ARD is a daughterboard built around the PCA9955B 16-channel constant-current LED driver IC. Its primary function is to enable rapid hardware validation, firmware testing, and GUI-driven characterization of the PCA9955B in systems using Arduino-compatible host boards such as the i.MX RT1050 EVK, LPCXpresso55S69, or i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK (with interposer). The PCA9955BTW-ARD provides direct access to all 16 outputs, configurable current limits, and chainable architecture - not for end-product deployment, but for engineering development and evaluation only.

Which host evaluation boards are officially supported by the PCA9955BTW-ARD?

The PCA9955BTW-ARD is fully compliant with three NXP evaluation platforms: the IMXRT1050 EVK Board, the LPCXpresso55S69 Development Board, and the i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK Board. For the i.MX 8M Mini LPDDR4 EVK, use of the IMX8MMINI-IARD interposer board is mandatory to bridge its 2×20-pin expansion connector to the Arduino port. Each supported EVK includes dedicated firmware and Windows 10 GUI software for full PCA9955BTW-ARD control.

How is power delivered to the PCA9955BTW-ARD, and what are the limitations?

The PCA9955BTW-ARD accepts power either from the host EVK's Arduino port (5 V) or externally via connector J85. Jumper J8 selects the source. When powered from the Arduino port, current limits apply: up to 3–4 boards in chain configuration depending on the EVK (e.g., 3 boards max on LPCXpresso55S69 due to USB current rating). External power removes this constraint. Total current draw reaches ~800 mA when all LEDs operate at 50 mA - making external supply essential for multi-board chains.

Can the PCA9955BTW-ARD be used with standard Arduino Uno R3 boards?

Yes - the PCA9955BTW-ARD features mated Arduino Uno R3 pin headers (J5, J6, J35, J36) and is electrically compatible with original Arduino Uno R3 boards. It uses only five signals: 5 V (power), GND, SDA, SCL, and three control lines (OE, RESET, MUX/REXT) mapped to D8–D10. No modifications or adapters are needed for basic I²C communication and LED control, though GUI software requires one of the supported NXP EVKs running compatible firmware.

What types of LEDs are included on the PCA9955BTW-ARD, and how are they connected?

The PCA9955BTW-ARD includes ten onboard LEDs: three RGB LEDs (D16–D18) wired to outputs LED0–LED8, and seven white LEDs (D4–D10) wired to outputs LED9–LED15. Each LED group has dedicated jumpers (e.g., J65–J69 for D4–D8; J76–J81 for D16/D17 RGB channels) allowing users to disconnect them from the PCA9955B outputs and route signals to external LED connectors (J21, J23, J25, J26). This enables both on-board functional verification and external load testing.